9 Free agent targets with ties to new 76ers coach Nick Nurse

Free Agent No. 6: Terrence Ross, Guard

From here on out, we’ll be looking at former Raptors, and largely players that Nurse coached as the head man from 2018 to 2013. That starts with Terrence Ross, a sharpshooting guard who was sent to the Orlando Magic in the Serge Ibaka trade and stayed there until he was bought out this spring and made a playoff run with the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns have a tumultuous offseason ahead of them, which could mean Ross moves on to another team. He has some glaring flaws, including his porous defense, but he’s a high-level movement shooter and that type of player is always valuable in a small role.

Free Agent No. 5: Yuta Watanabe, Small Forward

From a no-defense gunner to a do-it-all forward, Yuta Watanabe was a role player on the Toronto Raptors for two years with Nick Nurse before joining the Brooklyn Nets this past season and playing a valuable role, if a small one.

Watanabe is a good defender and has flashed a successful 3-point shot, especially from the corners. At 6’9″ he has the size every NBA team wants, but his lack of exposure leaguewide could make him available on another minimum. If so, he would be an excellent depth piece for a team like the Sixers to add.